A display device includes a first projector, a second projector, a first half mirror, a second half mirror and a reflection unit. The first projector is positioned with respect to the first half mirror such that the first rays are transmitted through the first half mirror in a given direction. The second projector is positioned with respect to the first half mirror such that the second rays are reflected by the first half mirror in the given direction. The reflection unit reflects the first rays and the second rays from the first half mirror to the second half mirror. The second half mirror reflects the first rays and the second rays from the reflection unit along the line of sight. The reflection unit further includes a reflector-projector that reflects the first rays and the second rays toward the second half mirror and projects third rays toward the second half mirror.
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13. A display device including:
a first projector configured to project first rays forming a first image component;
a second projector configured to project second rays forming a second image component;
a first half mirror, the first projector positioned with respect to the first half mirror such that the first rays are transmitted through the first half mirror in a given direction, the second projector positioned with respect to the first half mirror such that the second rays are reflected by the first half mirror in the given direction;
a reflection unit configured to reflect the first rays and the second rays from the first half mirror; and
a second half mirror configured as a screen of the display device and disposed such that a line of sight of a viewer extends to and past the second half mirror, the second half mirror configured to reflect the first rays and the second rays from the reflection unit along the line of sight such that the first image component and the second image component form an image for a viewer to see,
wherein the first half mirror is pivoted such that the second rays are not incident on the first half mirror and the first rays are transmitted through the first half mirror, and the second half mirror is pivoted so as to not intersect with the given line of sight.
1. A display device including:
a first projector configured to project first rays forming a first image component;
a second projector configured to project second rays forming a second image component;
a first half mirror, the first projector positioned with respect to the first half mirror such that the first rays are transmitted through the first half mirror in a given direction, the second projector positioned with respect to the first half mirror such that the second rays are reflected by the first half mirror in the given direction;
a second half mirror configured as a screen of the display device and disposed such that a line of sight of a viewer extends to and past the second half mirror; and
a reflection unit configured to reflect the first rays and the second rays from the first half mirror to the second half mirror, the second half mirror configured to reflect the first rays and the second rays from the reflection unit along the line of sight such that the first image component and the second image component form an image for a viewer, the reflection unit further including a reflector-projector configured to reflect the first rays and the second rays toward the second half mirror and to project third rays toward the second half mirror, the third rays forming a third image component.
20. A vehicle including an area from which the vehicle is controlled and a display device adjacent the area, the display device including:
a first projector configured to project first rays forming a first image component;
a second projector configured to project second rays forming a second image component;
a first half mirror, the first projector positioned with respect to the first half mirror such that the first rays are transmitted through the first half mirror in a given direction, the second projector positioned with respect to the first half mirror such that the second rays are reflected by the first half mirror in the given direction;
a second half mirror configured as a screen of the display device and disposed such that a first line of sight of a viewer located in the area extends to and past the second half mirror ahead of the vehicle; and
a reflection unit configured to reflect the first rays and the second rays from the first half mirror to the second half mirror, the second half mirror configured to reflect the first rays and the second rays from the reflection unit along the first line of sight such that the first image component and the second image component form an image for a viewer,
wherein a second line of sight of a viewer located in the area extends to at least one of the first projector and the second projector.
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The present disclosure relates to apparatuses and methods of displaying information and, more particularly, apparatuses and methods of displaying information to an operator of a vehicle.
Head-up displays provide information to an operator of a vehicle in a manner that allows them to see the information while maintaining their line of sight in the direction of travel. For example, an automobile can be equipped with a head-up display (HUD) that is provided between a windshield and the driver and is located such that information displayed by the HUD appears in a line of sight of the driver while their eyes can be kept through the windshield on the road ahead. While the presence of a HUD is useful to the operator, it can be helpful to provide adjustability or selectivity of the content being shown on the display depending on the amount of information the operator wishes to obtain.
In a first example embodiment, a display device includes a first projector, a second projector, a first half mirror, a second half mirror and a reflection unit. The first projector is configured to project first rays forming a first image component. The second projector is configured to project second rays forming a second image component. The first projector is positioned with respect to the first half mirror such that the first rays are transmitted through the first half mirror in a given direction. The second projector is positioned with respect to the first half mirror such that the second rays are reflected by the first half mirror in the given direction. The second half mirror is configured as a screen of the display device and is disposed such that a line of sight of a viewer can extend to and past the second half mirror. The reflection unit is configured to reflect the first rays and the second rays from the first half mirror to the second half mirror. The second half mirror is configured to reflect the first rays and the second rays from the reflection unit along the line of sight such that the first image component and the second image component form an image for a viewer to see. The reflection unit further includes a reflector-projector configured to reflect the first rays and the second rays toward the second half mirror and to project third rays toward the second half mirror. The third rays form a third image component.
In one example aspect of the first example embodiment, a surface area of the reflector-projector includes a first portion that is reflective and a second portion that projects the third rays.
In another example aspect of the first example embodiment, the first half mirror can be pivoted such that the second rays are not incident on the first half mirror and only the first rays are transmitted through the first half mirror.
In yet another example aspect of the first example embodiment, the reflection unit includes a plurality of mirrors.
In yet another example aspect of the first example embodiment, the reflection unit further includes a mirror configured to reflect the first rays and the second rays from the reflector-projector toward the second half mirror.
In yet another example aspect of the first example embodiment, the second half mirror can be pivoted so as to not intersect with the given line of sight.
In yet another example aspect of the first example embodiment, the second half mirror is part of a screen of a head-up display.
In yet another example aspect of the first example embodiment, the second half mirror is provided between a window of a vehicle and a viewer located in the vehicle.
In yet another example aspect of the first example embodiment, the second half mirror is adjustable between a light transparent state and a dark transparent state.
In yet another example aspect of the first example embodiment, the second half mirror includes a liquid crystal cell.
In yet another example aspect of the first example embodiment, the first projector and the second projector are provided inside a dashboard of a vehicle.
In yet another example aspect of the first example embodiment, a light emitting dial is located between the second projector and the first half mirror and operated as an additional projector.
In a second example embodiment, a display device includes a first projector, a second projector, a first half mirror, a reflection unit and a second half mirror. The first projector is configured to project first rays forming a first image component. The second projector is configured to project second rays forming a second image component. The first projector is positioned with respect to the first half mirror such that the first rays are transmitted through the first half mirror in a given direction. The second projector is positioned with respect to the first half mirror such that the second rays are reflected by the first half mirror in the given direction. The reflection unit is configured to reflect the first rays and the second rays from the first half mirror. The second half mirror is configured as a screen of the display device and is disposed such that a line of sight of a viewer can extend to and past the second half mirror. The second half mirror is configured to reflect the first rays and the second rays from the reflection unit along the line of sight such that the first image component and the second image component form an image for a viewer to see. The first half mirror can be pivoted such that the second rays are not incident on the first half mirror and the first rays are transmitted through the first half mirror. The second half mirror can be pivoted so as to not intersect with the given line of sight.
In one example aspect of the second example embodiment, the second half mirror includes a liquid crystal cell.
In another example aspect of the second example embodiment, the second half mirror is adjustable between a light transparent state and a dark transparent state.
In yet another example aspect of the second example embodiment, the second half mirror is provided between a window of a vehicle and a viewer located in the vehicle.
In yet another example aspect of the second example embodiment, the second half mirror is part of a screen of a head-up display.
In yet another example aspect of the second example embodiment, the first projector and the second projector are provided inside a dashboard of a vehicle, and a light emitting dial is located between the second projector and the first half mirror and operate as an additional projector.
In yet another example aspect of the second example embodiment, the reflection unit includes a plurality of mirrors.
In a third example embodiment, a vehicle includes an area from which the vehicle is controlled and a display device adjacent the area. The display device includes a first projector, a second projector, a first half mirror, a second half mirror and a reflection unit. The first projector is configured to project first rays forming a first image component. The second projector is configured to project second rays forming a second image component. The first projector is positioned with respect to the first half mirror such that the first rays are transmitted through the first half mirror in a given direction. The second projector is positioned with respect to the first half mirror such that the second rays are reflected by the first half mirror in the given direction. The second half mirror is configured as a screen of the display device and is disposed such that a first line of sight of a viewer located in the area extends to and past the second half mirror ahead of the vehicle. The reflection unit is configured to reflect the first rays and the second rays from the first half mirror to the second half mirror. The second half mirror is configured to reflect the first rays and the second rays from the reflection unit along the first line of sight such that the first image component and the second image component form an image for a viewer. A second line of sight of a viewer located in the area extends to at least one of the first projector and the second projector.
These and other aspects are better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Examples will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which example embodiments are shown. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. However, aspects can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.
Referring now to
As shown in
In the example embodiment shown in
In the embodiment of
The term “toward” can refer to projection of rays directly onto a plane as well as projection of rays in an indirect manner such as rays that reach a plane after being reflected from one or more mirrors.
The reflection unit 30 is configured to direct the light rays from the first half mirror 26 to the second half mirror 28 and can include one or more mirrors 34. In the embodiment of
One of the components in the reflection unit 30 can be configured to operate as a third projector. This component can be configured to function in a dual manner as a mirror and a projector (i.e., a reflector-projector 36). As shown in
The second half mirror 28 can be configured to be part of the screen 18 of the HUD that the operator/viewer looks at as shown in
Each of the first projector 22, the second projector 24 and the third projector can be configured to emit rays forming an image component corresponding to a specific type of information shown on the instrument panel or the screen 18. For example, the first image component 23a can correspond to information relating to an entertainment system of the vehicle (e.g., second and third rows from bottom in
Moreover, the first image component 23a formed by the first projector 22 can be the figures or representations appearing on the screen 18 of the HUD and the second image component 25a formed by the second projector 24 can be the figures or representations appearing on the instrument panel. Alternatively, some of the figures or representations viewed by the operator/viewer on the screen 18 of the HUD can be formed by the first image component 23a of the first projector 22 while the rest of the figures or representations viewed by the operator/viewer on the screen of the HUD can be formed by the second image component 25a of the second projector 24. The third image component 36a formed by the third projector can be a numerical indication of speed. Furthermore, the speedometer dial on the instrument panel cannot need to be lit when the third projector is emitting the numeral indication of speed onto the second half mirror 28 of the screen 18.
The aforementioned display device 10 can operate or be operated in the following manner. When the display device 10 or HUD is turned off, the operator/viewer inside the vehicle can observe what is ahead of the vehicle (e.g., traffic) through the windshield 16 as shown in
The figures or representations on the instrument panel and the HUD can be formed by a combination of components that can include the projectors 22, 24, the reflector-projector 36 and the gauge 32. Each of these components can provide different type of information to the operator/viewer. For example, the first image component 23a of the first projector 22 can relate only to an entertainment system while the second image component 25a of the second projector 24 can relate only to the settings of the vehicle. Moreover, the components of the display device 10 can be appropriately controlled so as to provide easily discernible information on the screen 18. A processor can be provided to appropriately turn on or off one or more of these components depending on the content that need to be shown on the screen 18. Furthermore, the first half mirror 26 can be pivoted so that the second image component 25a and the gauge 32 cannot be shown on the screen 18 and the content shown on the screen 26 is restricted to the first image component 23a and the third image component 36a.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.
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Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
May 20 2013 | YAMADA, HAJIME | HONDA MOTOR CO , LTD | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 030588 | /0430 | |
Jun 11 2013 | Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / |
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